[hippie_queen]

Your theory is reasonable and probably partially correct, but the Einstein example is quite a simplification.

I suspect the ego/arrogance thing works both ways. When you're younger you're often more willing to show the finger to existing paradigms and are perhaps arrogant enough to think you can "revolutionize physics." Naturally, most people can't do that but some make history.

(Also, I'm talking out of my ass and should probably add some history of science to my reading stack).